DULUTH, Minn. -- Tourism officials in Duluth are assuring travelers that the city is open for business.
Despite the record breaking flooding that devastated parts of the northeast Minnesota city, officials as well as restaurants and other tourism-related businesses are telling people that they are open and prepared for the summer travel season.
"Duluth is open right now and the weather should be absolutely gorgeous again this weekend," said Mark Emmel, President and Chief Operating Officer of Lion Hotel Group which owns and operates the Holiday Inn & Suites.
Some area businesses and officials are worried about how the damage will affect the region's $800 million tourism industry. One big hit to Carlton, about 15 miles south of Duluth, is the closure of Jay Cooke State Park.
"I can tell you right now that probably our tourism industry is non-existent right at this point," Carlton Mayor Leola Rodd told Minnesota Public Radio. "We have a lot of people who come through here and they come to Jay Cooke State Park. There is no way, with all of this water and everything that people are able to get through. And so pretty much for our businesses this is going to be a tough one."
Visit Duluth's President/CEO Terry Mattson said he's spoken with several general managers at area hotels, restaurants and attractions that all say they are fully functioning and never missed a beat.
Mattson told KARE 11 that most of the damage was done to roads and private homes, and most businesses did not receive any damage. Though the damage will mean visitors will have to find their way through detours he hopes that will not keep people away.
The Duluth International Airport remained open.
Click here for the latest travel information from Visit Duluth.
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